Green Oasis in a Small Urban Space

The garden is like a slow-motion work of art. I'll never be done with it. After 20 years as an apartment dweller, I love getting my hands in the soil. I started clearing the yard in March and finished the patio in late May. Then I made lots of trips to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden—it's just a quick subway ride away—for inspiration, including what to plant in sun and what in shade. The perennial beds there are amazing; they really show how to use color, texture, and leaf shape to design a garden. Thanks to our new terrier, Roxy, who loves to dig, I may have to put sturdier plants in some places. Having this garden is such a luxury to us. It's amazing how peaceful and quiet it is—right in the heart of the city.